Integrated Pest Management System of Enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) in Ethiopia:A Review

Abstract

Enset is an important root crop widely used as a staple food for millions of peoples in Ethiopia. Despite its dominant production in southern and western parts of the county, diverse diseases and insect pests are challenging its production and productivity in Ethiopia. Hence this short review was aimed to discuss the IPM system developed to control the potential Enset pests in different production areas of Ethiopia. Hence, enset is a root crop that is highly susceptible to different microbial diseases and insect pest problems. Bacterial wilt is a major devastating disease causing important economic losses and can lead up to killing the whole plant parts that are commonly observed around enset growing areas of the country. Enset root mealy bag is also an important insect pest found on the upper half of the corm and root parts of enset which can retard the plant growth and causes to dry outer parts of the leaf that might be leading to causes the plant death. However, most of the growers are practicing different controlling mechanisms against both the potential diseases and insect pests of the crop. Due to the chemical control methods needs the cost of purchase and usage on root mealybug has usually not effective, the growers are wide uses an integrated method of pest management systems with their indigenous knowledge to prevent the disease and insect introduction to the enset field and to control already infected plants. Hence, using host plant resistant method, cultural controlling method, biological controlling method, and finally uses of chemical controlling option are the IPM component practiced by enset growers in Ethiopia. The IPM system is not only an optional method but necessitates the management systems against the potential pest due to environmentally friend, cost-effective, and alternative options to various behaviors of pests. However, breeding of pest-resistant Enset genotype and adoption of successful IPM controlling methods to all enset growing areas need further work to alleviate the encountered challenges on enset growing sector in Ethiopia Keywords: Bacterial Wilt Disease; Biological Control Method; Chemical Control Method; Cultural Control Methods; Enset Root Mealy Bug; Pest Infestation DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/13-9-03 Publication date: May 31 st 2022